3 former teachers sue over firings at Auburn

Three white male teachers claiming that gender and race discrimination cost them their jobs at Rockford’s Auburn High School are fighting to get reinstated.

Three white male teachers claiming that gender and race discrimination cost them their jobs at Rockford’s Auburn High School are fighting to get reinstated.

Matt Thiesen, Brett Koplin and Mark Sterling filed suit Tueseday against the Rockford School District in federal court.

All three were employed until March 14, 2006, when they were fired by Principal Janice Hawkins, who is a black woman.

The lawsuit alleges that female and nonwhite teachers of similar experience and work performance were not fired when the defendants were given their notices of termination.

The men and their attorneys could not be reached for comment. School Board attorney Stephen Katz called the allegations “completely without merit.”

According to the lawsuit, the men want their jobs back, damages for lost salary, benefits and other payments, interest on the damages, and compensation for loss of tenure, stigma damages, emotional distress, pain and suffering, attorney fees and any other relief deemed proper by the court.